Dispenser for a product, typically a cosmetic product, with magnetic support

Abstract

The dispenser ( 1 ) includes a body ( 2 ) with a tubular skirt ( 3 ), a support ( 8 ) for the product ( 6 ), a cap ( 5 ) and a member for axially displacing the support ( 8 ) manually. It is characterised in that: a) it includes a slider ( 7 ), able to be displaced manually in an axial run in the axial direction along the tubular skirt ( 3 ), the slider ( 7, 7′, 7 ″) forming a the first part ( 70 ), the support ( 8 ) forming or including a the second part ( 80 ), the first and second parts ( 70, 80 ) being attracted by radial magnetic forces, b) the skirt ( 3 ) of the body ( 2 ), the slider ( 7, 7′, 7 ″), and typically the support, have typically homothetical, noncircular, sections.

1 . Dispenser ( 1 ) for a product ( 6 ), typically a cosmetic product, such as a stick of lipstick intended to be applied to an application medium or surface such as the lips, including a body ( 2 ) with a tubular skirt ( 3 ) forming a cavity for said product ( 6 ) and equipped at its upper part ( 30 ) with an upper aperture ( 300 ), a support ( 8 ) for said product ( 6 ) able to be displaced in an axial direction in said tubular skirt ( 3 ) and thereby to make said product ( 6 ) emerge through said upper aperture ( 300 ) so that it can be used, a cap ( 5 ) able to seal said upper aperture ( 300 ) by engaging with said tubular skirt ( 3 ), and a means for axially displacing said support ( 8 ) manually relative to said tubular skirt ( 3 ), characterised in that: 
 a) it includes a slider ( 7 ) external to said tubular skirt ( 3 ), forming a closed annular slider ( 7 ′) or an open annular slider ( 7 ″), able to be displaced manually in an axial run in said axial direction along said tubular skirt ( 3 ), said slider ( 7 ,  7 ′,  7 ″) forming a so-called first part ( 70 ), said support ( 8 ) forming or including a so-called second part ( 80 ), said first and second parts ( 70 ,  80 ) being attracted by radial magnetic forces, in such a way that said axial displacement of said slider ( 7 ,  7 ′,  7 ″) causes that of said support ( 8 ) and that thereby said product ( 6 ) carried by said support ( 8 ) is able to emerge as required through said upper aperture ( 300 ) by a manual displacement of said outer slider,    b) the skirt ( 3 ) of said body ( 2 ), said slider ( 7 ,  7 ′,  7 ″), and typically said support, have typically homothetical, noncircular, sections, namely outer S CE  and inner S CI  sections for the skirt ( 3 ) of said body ( 2 ), outer S AE  and inner S AI  sections for said slider ( 7 ,  7 ′,  7 ″) and an outer section S SE  for said support ( 8 ), the inner section S AI  of said slider ( 7 ,  7 ′,  7 ″) being at least equal to the outer section S CE  of the skirt ( 3 ) of said body ( 2 ), the outer section S SE  of said support ( 8 ) being at least equal to the inner section S CI  of the skirt ( 3 ) of said body ( 2 ), in such a way that said slider ( 7 ,  7 ′,  7 ″) and said support ( 8 ) are able to slide relative to the skirt ( 3 ) of said body ( 2 ), and that said product ( 6 ,  6 ′,  6 ″,  6 ′″), and typically said stick ( 6 ′), is able to have a noncircular section S RE , of form adapted to said application, said section S RE  being at least equal to said inner section S CI  of said skirt ( 3 ) of said body ( 2 ).    
   
   
       2 . Dispenser according to  claim 1  wherein one ( 70 ,  80 ) of said first ( 70 ) and second ( 80 ) parts includes a permanent magnet, the other part ( 80 ,  70 ) including a permanent magnet, or a paramagnetic or ferromagnetic material of positive magnetic susceptibility typically greater than 1, so as to form said radial magnetic forces.  
   
   
       3 . Dispenser according to  claim 1 , wherein said body ( 2 ) or said tubular skirt ( 3 ) include or form a so-called “upper” stop ( 20 ) and a so-called “lower” stop ( 21 ), so as to restrict said axial run of said slider ( 7 ,  7 ′,  7 ″) and to fix said slider ( 7 ,  7 ′,  7 ″) to said body ( 2 ).  
   
   
       4 . Dispenser according to  claim 1 , wherein said body ( 2 ) includes a bottom ( 4 ), said bottom ( 4 ) typically forming said lower stop ( 21 ) by means of a section or diameter greater than that of said skirt forming a shoulder ( 40 ) able to block said slider ( 7 ,  7 ′,  7 ″).  
   
   
       5 . Dispenser according to  claim 4  wherein said bottom ( 4 ) is a bottom ( 4 ′) forming with said skirt ( 3 ) a moulded part cast in a single piece.  
   
   
       6 . Dispenser according to  claim 4  wherein said bottom ( 4 ) is a bottom ( 4 ″) forming a part distinct from said skirt ( 3 ), said bottom ( 4 ″) and said skirt ( 3 ) being typically assembled by being snapped on or by bonding.  
   
   
       7 . Dispenser according to  claim 6  wherein said bottom ( 4 ″) includes or forms a ring ( 41 ) for fixing to said skirt and possibly a central area ( 42 ).  
   
   
       8 . Dispenser according to  claim 1 , wherein said support ( 8 ) forms a piston ( 8 ′) typically including a peripheral lip ( 81 ), in such a way that said piston ( 8 ′) engages in a typically sealed way with said tubular skirt ( 3 ).  
   
   
       9 . Dispenser according to  claim 1 , wherein said axial displacement is reversible, and wherein said slider ( 7 ,  7 ′,  7 ″) is therefore able to come against said lower stop ( 21 ), and possibly to be held against said lower stop ( 21 ), particularly when said upper aperture ( 300 ) is sealed by said cap ( 5 ).  
   
   
       10 . Dispenser according to  claim 9  wherein said cap ( 5 ), said slider ( 7 ,  7 ′,  7 ″) and said bottom ( 4 ,  4 ′,  4 ″) have one and the same axial section, and wherein said cap ( 5 ) has sufficient height for said dispenser ( 1 ) to have a uniform section over its entire height when it is closed, said cap ( 5 ) sealing said upper aperture ( 300 ).  
   
   
       11 . Dispenser according to  claim 1 , wherein said axial displacement is irreversible, typically through an engagement between a plurality of catches ( 31 ) formed on the inner surface of said tubular skirt ( 3 ) and a flexible edge ( 82 ) of said support ( 8 ), said catches ( 31 ) being orientated so as to allow only a so-called upwards axial displacement corresponding to the emergence of said product ( 6 ) through said orifice ( 300 ), in such a way particularly that said application of said product is able to bring into play an axial force greater than the axial resistance generated by said radial magnetic forces.  
   
   
       12 . Dispenser according to  claim 1 , wherein said upper part ( 30 ) of said tubular skirt ( 3 ) includes or forms an outer projection ( 301 ), said outer projection ( 301 ) typically forming said upper stop ( 20 ) and providing said engagement with said cap, by screwing or being snapped on.  
   
   
       13 . Dispenser according to  claim 12  wherein said tubular skirt ( 3 ) includes a means ( 32 ) for the axial blocking of said slider ( 7 ,  7 ′,  7 ″) against said lower stop ( 21 ) prior to a first opening of said dispenser ( 1 ), said axial blocking means ( 32 ) forming a means of detecting said first opening, and typically including a tab ( 33 ) connected to said tubular skirt ( 3 ) by a plurality of bridges ( 330 ) able to be broken by pulling manually on one end ( 331 ) of said tab ( 33 ) during said first opening.  
   
   
       14 . Dispenser according to  claim 1 , wherein said body ( 2 ), said slider ( 7 ,  7 ′,  7 ″), and said support ( 8 ,  8 ′) have homothetical noncircular sections, said product ( 6 ,  6 ′,  6 ″,  6 ′″), typically said stick ( 6 ′), having a noncircular section S RE  close to or homothetical with that S SE  of said support ( 8 ).  
   
   
       15 . Dispenser according to  claim 1 , wherein said tubular skirt ( 3 ) is blocked at its upper part by a crown ( 34 ) including a plurality of orifices ( 340 ), said product ( 6 ) typically being a pasty or creamy product able to flow through said orifices ( 340 ).  
   
   
       16 . Dispenser according to  claim 1 , wherein said support ( 8 ,  8 ′) includes a filling orifice sealed with a bung ( 83 ), so as to be able to fill said dispenser ( 1 ) with product ( 6 ) through its lower part.  
   
   
       17 . Dispenser according to  claim 1 , wherein said support ( 8 ) includes a means for fastening or anchoring ( 84 ) said product ( 6 ), typically in the form of an axial projection ( 843 ) penetrating into said product ( 6 ).  
   
   
       18 . Dispenser according to  claim 1 , wherein said slider ( 7 ) forms a closed annular slider ( 7 ′), said part ( 70 ) typically being coated in a sheath of plastic material ( 71 ).  
   
   
       19 . Dispenser according to  claim 1 , wherein said noncircular sections are homothetical sections with a form selected from among the following forms including line segments or arc portions: triangular, square, rectangular, trapezoidal, polygonal, oval, oblong, angular sector.  
   
   
       20 . Dispenser according to  claim 1 , wherein the inner section S CI  of the skirt of said body and the corresponding outer section S PE  of said product S PE  have one and the same form factor L/1 typically between 1 and 5, L and 1 being the largest dimension and the smallest dimension respectively of the smallest rectangle, or of the smallest square if L=1, into which said section may fall.  
   
   
       21 . Dispenser according to  claim 19 , wherein all or part of said line segments are inwardly curved concave line segments or outwardly curved convex line segments.  
   
   
       22 . Dispenser according to  claim 1 , with an H/D ratio of typically between 0.8 and 10, H and D being the largest axial or height dimension and the largest radial or diameter dimension respectively of said closed dispenser.  
   
   
       23 . Dispenser according to  claim 22  wherein said H/D ratio is greater than 3, said dispenser ( 1 ) forming a tube of lipstick ( 1 ′) and said product ( 6 ) then being typically a stick of lipstick ( 6 ′).  
   
   
       24 . Dispenser according to  claim 23  wherein said stick ( 6 ′) and said support ( 8 ) form a removable assembly ( 9 ), said assembly forming a refill, so as to be able to change said assembly either to change the colour shade of the stick, or when said stick has been fully used up.  
   
   
       25 . Dispenser according to  claim 23  wherein said stick ( 6 ′) and said anchoring means ( 84 ) of said support ( 8 ) form a removable assembly ( 9 ′), said assembly ( 9 ′) forming a refill, so as to be able to change said assembly either to change the colour shade of the stick, or when said stick has been fully used up.  
   
   
       26 . Dispenser according to  claim 22  wherein said H/D ratio is between 2 and 4, said dispenser ( 1 ) forming a stick-form deodorant dispenser and said product ( 6 ) typically being a deodorant stick ( 6 ′″).  
   
   
       27 . Dispenser according to  claim 22  wherein said H/D ratio is less than 4, said dispenser ( 1 ) then forming a cream dispenser and said product ( 6 ) typically being a rigid product such as a cream ( 6 ″).  
   
   
       28 . Multiple dispenser ( 1   a ) of a plurality of N products ( 6 ), typically cosmetic products, including a body ( 2 ) with a multi-tubular skirt ( 3   a ) forming a plurality of N cavities for said plurality of N products ( 6 ), said cavities being equipped at their upper part ( 30   a ) with upper apertures ( 300   a ), a plurality of N independent supports ( 8   a ) for said N products ( 6   a ) able to be displaced in an axial direction of said multi-tubular skirt ( 3   a ) and thus to make said products ( 6   a ) emerge through said upper apertures ( 300   a ) so that they can be used and typically applied to an application surface, a cap ( 5 ) or a plurality of caps ( 5   a ) able to seal said upper apertures ( 300 ), and a means to ensure manually an axial displacement of each of said supports ( 8   a ) relative to said multi-tubular skirt ( 3   a ), in which a plurality of N independent sliders ( 7   a ) external to said multi-tubular skirt ( 3 ) forming a plurality of N open rings, each open ring surrounding a support, said open rings being able to be displaced manually in an axial run in said axial direction along said multi-tubular skirt ( 3   a ), each of said sliders ( 7   a ) forming a part ( 70 ), said support ( 8 ) forming or including another part ( 80 ), said parts ( 70 ) and ( 80 ) being attracted by radial magnetic forces, in such a way that each axial displacement of one of the N independent sliders ( 7   a ) drives that of said corresponding support ( 8   a ) and that thereby said corresponding product ( 6   a ) carried by said support ( 8   a ) is able to emerge as required through said corresponding upper aperture ( 300   a ).  
   
   
       29 . Multiple dispenser according to  claim 28  wherein N is a figure from  2  to  6 .  
   
   
       30 . Dispenser according to  claim 28 , wherein said plurality of products ( 6   a ) corresponds to a plurality of transverse section perpendicular to said axial direction, and/or a plurality of colour shades, and/or a plurality of products that are distinct through their chemical composition.  
   
   
       31 - 32 . (canceled)